505. Pelican West

Pelican West
Haircut One Hundred
1982

Tracks
1. Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl) 
2. Love Plus One
3. Lemon Firebrigade 
4. Marine Boy 
5. Milk Film 
6. Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle) 
7. Fantastic Day
8. Baked Beans 
9. Snow Girl 
10. Love's Got Me In Triangles 
11. Surprise Me Again 
12. Calling Captain Autumn

After the first song, I was all prepared to give this a five star review.  Unfortunately, it kind of petered out and I was quite happy when it was over.   I accidentally listened to the 2016 rerelease, which didn't help matters.  The thinking seemed to be "let's make the forgettable songs longer!"

On the other hand, I have listened to so many truly terrible albums on this List that I probably shouldn't complain, considering how decent the first half was.  The second half isn't horrible, but it just sounds like generic cheesy 80s music.

Kate Bush is up next!  I am excited to listen to a female artist!

RATING: 3/5

504. The Nightfly

The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
1982

Tracks
1. IGY 
2. Green Flower Street 
3. Ruby Baby 
4. Maxine 
5. New Frontier 
6. Nightfly 
7. Goodbye Look 
8. Walk Between Raindrops 

Perhaps I am just getting soft in my old age, but we have had some great albums lately.  I probably just jinxed myself.  In fact, I just checked and Thriller is coming up.  So definitely a jinx.

So this was a fun album that was surprisingly catchy.  I would never have expected to enjoy a jazz fusion album, so this came as a very pleasant surprise.  Of course, there was a decent amount of cheese, but thankfully, I'm not lactose intolerant.

Next up, Haircut One Hundred.  I wish I could get through one day without hearing about that band...

RATING: 4/5

503. Rise and Fall

Rise and Fall
Madness
1982

Tracks
1. Rise And Fall
2. Tomorrow's Just Another Day
3. Blue Skinned Beast
4. Primrose Hill
5. Mr Speaker Gets The Word
6. Sunday Morning
7. Our House
8. Tiptoes
9. New Delhi
10. That Face
11. Calling Cards
12. Are You Coming (With Me)
13. Madness (It's All In The Mind)

I lived in London in 2015 and miss it every day.  I spend a lot of time pining for those days so this album was a perfect fit.

The only song I had heard off this album before was "Our House."  It was probably the best song, mostly because it perfectly captured the mood of the album.  Nostalgic but still lots of fun.  I might have actually mistaken this for a Kinks album if the vocals weren't so unique.

There have been lots of great albums lately.  I hope they keep it up!

RATING: 5/5

502. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Simple Minds
1982

Tracks
1. Someone Somewhere In Summertime 
2. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel 
3. Promised You A Miracle 
4. Big Sleep 
5. Somebody Up There Likes You 
6. New Gold Dream (81 82 83 84) 
7. Glittering Prize 
8. Hunter And The Hunted 
9. King Is White And In The Crowd

Happy New Year everybody!  Like most movie fans, I can easily identify Simple Minds from their Breakfast Club heyday.  However, I was unfamiliar with their other work and man, have I been missing out.

When I think of early 80s music I tend to jump to the worst of the worst (think "Mickey"). But this is really what should be remembered from this decade: danceable synth pop.  Does anyone do it better than Simple Minds?  I guess I will find out.

Let's enjoy this music while we can.  A band called Orange Juice is coming up!  That can't be good.

RATING: 4/5